Google services + fresh content = ranking?

I'm not sure if that was extensively tested, as most of the forum is about BH methods. I've just noticed that I'm able to rank the site on some keywords by dropping every kind of Google service on the site only.

Recently, I put two sites - the first wasn't touched by any of Google service (webmaster tools, adsense, analytics, wasn't submitted to Google), but I did some manual quality backlinking. The second wasn't backlinked at all, but has all of Google services on site. In both cases content is relatively unique (but doesn't pass Copyscape), fresh (published within last two weeks) and short (5-6 x 200 words articles). The niches are a bit different so it's harder to compare, but I'm ranking higher with Google's services on site without backlinking, than the opposite. Of course that might change later on, but I just wonder if anybody else observed similar pattern? I have a few theories why that happens (Google trusts sites that it knows a lot about, for example), but I'm more interested if it occurs often enough one can actually rely on it.

None of these have any effect on serps..webmaster tools will help you to optimize your site to rank it better but just submitting your site won't do anything.

wahidpolin said:

None of these have any effect on serps..webmaster tools will help you to optimize your site to rank it better but just submitting your site won't do anything.

Click to expand...

I guess the proper testing set should consist of two sites within the same niche, ranking for the same long-tail keyword, with the same amount of backlinking.

I asked because what I've observed was contradictory to frequently posted opinion that webmaster tools might help Google sink the page down. Thanks for clarification, Wahidpolin.

Google's services will only help you get your sites indexed faster (submitting sitemap via wt) and I dont think there is any more of an advantage than that.

Yeah that's true. The main things you want to use is Google sitemap submission and robots.txt submission. These will help with indexing but Google other services are merely the same as most third-party SEO tools, they just provide data.